Wednesday, 29 December 2010

Reflections on 2010

As this year winds down through its final week, I've been reflecting on the year gone by. As I was telling my best friend the other day, 2010 felt like the year in which everything finally fell into place for me. I couldn't have asked for a better year to close out this decade, which has seen me go through some truly tumultuous times. It feels deeply satisfying to finally shed the insecurities and uncertainties of my 20s and grow comfortable in my own skin. Much of my 20s were spent agonising over whether I'd ever meet the right person, what I should do with my life and whether I'd ever be any good at what I do.

Being naturally quite reserved, I've never been the kind of person who makes friends easily. Throughout my 20s, it seemed like with each passing year, my circle of friends grew smaller. However, in my 30s, I was surprised when new friends came into my life and we bonded easily and strongly. Similarly, just when I'd given up hope on meeting someone, I met my husband and we got married in March this year after just two years of dating.

Life and people will surprise you that way. Sometimes, all it takes is being in the right place at the right time (and always treating the people around you with kindness and graciousness will go a long, long way too). So, ladies who are dreading turning 30, do try to keep an open mind because your 30s could turn out to be much more interesting than you anticipate. I know that I've been very blessed, and I give thanks every day for it.

Blog-wise, it has also been deeply gratifying to watch my readership grow organically to where it is today. Long-time readers would know that this year, I started to show my face on the blog and hopefully, that has made the blog more personable and useful. (If you detest my face, I don't know why you are reading this but I do hope for your sake, that you find something more productive to do with your time soon!) My sincere thanks to my regular readers for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with me through the comments.

2010 was the year that beauty companies in Singapore actively started to engage the blogging community and so I had the chance to attend several events. These have been on the whole quite fun and it was definitely an eye-opener in terms of getting to know the rest of the local community of beauty bloggers, ladies from all walks of life and professions with one shared love of everything beauty-related. Naturally, not everyone is peaches and sunshine but well, they do provide the best stories!

For 2011, my only wishes are that my mother's cancer will continue to stay in remission (it's 2 years and counting now) for decades to come, and for the safety of my husband, who likes to visit countries that give me nightmares. To my readers, I hope that 2011 will bring you buckets of warm love and laughter, wherever you are.

I hope the next year will be better for you....always a pleasure speaking to you and reading your blog...(Countless times people asking why I started my blog...the name rouge deluxe always come into the picture)...keep up the good work....

Hi Haru, I have been your reader for quite a while and I want to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for 2011. Keep up the good writing and may all the things you wish for in your list come true for you.

dear iris,i remembered the first time i read your blog, it was about 4 years back when i was 25.. when i first read your blog and received cps from kind u, i was broken-hearted at that point..now i'm nearing 29 early next year, having constantly fought with depression all these yrs, i've lost many precious things and sad to say, the end of 2010 does not mark the end of my sorrow.. as i grow older, hope diminishes too.. but i'm determined to keep my faith like u do.. that one day i'd be truly happy and see each year pass in happiness, not tears.. i certainly hope that my prince would come into my life in 2011! if he does, i'll drop u a message this time next yr to let u know i've been blessed like u! thanks for being everything u r.. god bless!

hi,I'm sorry to hear about your battle with depression. Hope that your path will be much smoother in 2011. Do try to find joy in the simple, every day happenings around you. Some days will always be tougher, or more dreary than others, but don't lose heart. Sometimes you'll find a rainbow in the most unexpected of places and times.

Hi,I turned 33 this year :-) Do try to experiment with different colours in your makeup to find out what works for you, and what you are comfortable with. Makeup is meant to be fun after all, and you can always wash it off.

That was such a nice and hopeful post. I know exactly what you are talking about (the 20's part, I have yet to experience the great changes I hope for in my 30's). Still, things may be looking up and I am hopeful. Happy New Year!

Hi, I was just like u when I was in my twenties... quite reserved, never been the kind of person who makes friends easily & similarly my circle of friends grew smaller. Ended w some wrong guys on the way. Sigh.. those were the days of uncertainties. I caught on this blog reading wagon only early this year 2010. I'm glad that I found your blog. I enjoy reading your blog & is now my daily ritual. Keep up the good work. Best wishes to you & your loved ones.

hi dear, your blog is one of the very few beauty blogs that i never fail to go to whenever im online. as i loveee our japanese makeup, while googling for reviews (i live in sg)i happened to chance upon yr blog in early 2010. & how glad i am to know your blog. its amazing. i love all your quick updates and honest reviews. you're so detailed and precise, your blog is one of the most sincere blogs i ever came across. im serious.

to be honest, and a little guilty, this is the first time im actually leaving you a comment. time flies and its been almost a year since ive been coming to your blog faithfully everytime im online!

glad to know you enjoyed year 2010 and really wish & hope 2011 will be an even better year for you, me, all of us.

hello haru, thanks for this lovely blog that you have kept going all these years! i've always been a silent reader (maybe for around... 2 years plus or so) but i feel compelled to speak out here to show how much i appreciate your reviews and bits and pieces of your daily life you share with us!

You're adorable and I'm glad you put your picture on your blog. It does make it more personable and human. Have a great 2011 and I'm sending good karma your mother's way that her cancer does stay in remission. I'm over here in America but I love reading blogs from other countries. It makes me realize that we aren't that different. We are all one big, happy beauty family!

I'm in my uncertain 20's now, with a huge grad school debt (a whole different set of uncertainties) to boot! But your post is so inspiring :) I was just thinking too that your posts and looks have gotten a lot more vibrant and confident this year! I want to be like you someday :P

Hey Iris, thanks for sharing your honest thoughts. I am nearing the 3-0 and frankly, I feel that I'm in a 'not-here, not-there' stage now. But well, I will look forward to growing older, wiser and becoming a more confident woman.

And it has been great reading your blog and even meeting you in person. Happy new year and hope to see you around next year! :)

Hi Iris,Thanks for sharing your life and beauty knowledge with us here! It has been great reading your blog and get to know the beauty stuffs out there!

I was going to do a 2010 reflections on my blog too :P 2010has been an eventful but not so happy year for me. Happy to know 2010 has been a great year for you! Wishing a much much better and blessed year 2011 for all of us!!

I like reading your blog to find out the latest trends and of course makeup! The overseas trip pictures is what i also love too since i love travelling myself but haven't got the chance to do so to faraway places like US or UK but i hope i will get there someday. This particular entry give me some hope and meaning because it has being a long and tough year for me and that yes, i am still looking for that special someone and alot of other worries. I guess life can turn better when we least expect it. You certainly prove so. I hope 30s will be good for me too since ahem, approaching soon haha. All the best to you and your family in 2011! :)

p/s: pray and have faith in god that everything will continue to turn out well for your mum's illness, will keep a prayer for her too.

I started to use eye makeup again after I saw your entry and got really inspired. Really have to thank you cos your entries was most informative to me not to mention all the sales update you posted (help me save quite a fair bit). From a 1 foundation, 1 blush kind of girl, my collection grown by leaps since I started following your post in September this year.

I found your recommendations most useful, save me alot of money from buying makeup which would otherwise not work for me.

Now I feel so much more confident in myself. Thank you! Hopefully I can find my other half soon as well!

This is the first time I am commenting but I have read your blog for a long time. Yours is one of the best beauty blogs anywhere and is a daily staple for me.

I can emphatise with what you're going through as I have lost several female family members to cancer and now it's my aunt's turn. It's very tough to have to go through such an experience with someone so close to you. I wish your mum the best and hope she makes a thorough recovery to good health.

happy new 2011 year and i sincerely hope your mum continue to be strong and since it has been 2 years past and all is clear, i believe with her continual determination, kindness and grace, she has no problem despite the unfortunate illness. i can surely identify your wish for your mum to be well soon and auntie will do well and better and better each year!

wishing you, your mum and your family best of everything in 2011

i have been enjoying reading your blog since many years back and before i have my iphone, i was reading feeds using my N97 nokia and i load your rougedeluxe blog as my homepage :)

What a great and personal writeup, I am your faithful reader and will alway be. Really hope to meetup with u someday though I'm less obsessed with makeup now as I have new priorities in my life now.Wishing you and your family a smooth 2011 ahead and more delightful makeup for u.Vel Chan

Thanks, Iris for all your updates and sharing. I have been reading your blog for a few years and your sincerity and generosity truly touched my heart. Guess what? I think that I am the oldest reader i.e. I am in my forties with two teenager daughters. I always roped them in to read your blog. Keep up your good work! Have a blessed 2011 and good health to everyone at home especially your mum.Warmest regards, Virginia Chong

Hi Iris,I have been a vivid reader and enjoyed your blog.Wishing you a very Happy New Year and all the beat in 2011!I understand the pain of seeing close one fighting cancer, and I wish your mum a speedy recovery!

Wow, thanks for all the well wishes and positive comments! It truly touches me deeply to hear from each one of you, especially those who have been silent readers and are commenting for the first time. I'll do my best to continue to keep the blog updated regularly and interesting.

Hi Virginia,Age is just a number, and what's more important is one's state of mind! Thank you for your kind words, I hope your daughters have enjoyed reading the blog as well.

Hi Vel,Thank you, hope 2011 will also be a wonderful year for you. My mother certainly wishes that I'd be less makeup-obsessed but for now, I'm still having great fun with it :-)

Hi Lynn,Thank you for the well wishes, hope 2011 will also bring you more happiness!

Hi Ling,Thank you, that's really touching to hear!

hi Yumeko,Thanks, looking very much forward to seeing you again sometime in 2011!

hi Jan,Thank you, hope 2011 will also be a great year for you and your loved ones.

hi Pinklady2711,So glad to hear that you find the blog useful and more importantly, that it has helped your self-confidence. I always find that women who have self-confidence, regardless of their actual outward appearance, are the ones who radiate attractiveness. Hope that 2011 will bring you happiness too!

hi Lynn.TrinketsLove,thank you, I hope that 2011 will go smoothly for you and that your wish will be fulfilled.

hi Ms Glitzy,I've enjoyed reading your blog immensely too. Hope that 2011 will be a great year for you too!

hi Jenn,Thank you, that's really sweet to hear. I hope that 2011 will bring you happiness and more stability in your life. As tough as life can get sometimes, we all live and learn. Even the darkest night eventually turns into a new dawn.

Hi Liz,Thanks for all the goo wishes! I also read several US beauty blogs avidly. I love how women from all over the world can connect through these beauty blogs :-)

hi Yuan Yuan,Thanks for being a regular reader! Hope 2011 will also be a wonderful year for you!

hi tsukino,Thank you for the kind comments. Please don't feel guilty about not leaving a comment before! I know there are many readers who follow the blog silently and I'm just as appreciative for their support. Hope 2011 will also bring you much joy!

hi Sun,Thank you for your kind words. Do try to put those experiences behind you and move on. We all live and learn from these experiences, as negative as they might be. I think it was going through the really bad times that I actually grew and matured, and found my inner strength, because if I could survive those experiences, I knew that I could overcome many of the more trivial obstacles that come my way.

hi Verlyn,I'm so sorry to hear about your late mum *HUGS* Will keep my fingers crossed for you, hope that 2011 will see your wishes fulfilled!

Thanks for sharing your reflection post. Being 30s is something that I don't look forward to but it's not the number that counts, it's the year of how much we have gotten wiser and seeing things in a different perspective.

Also thanks for sharing your wonderful make up tutorials of your FOTD shots. I like that you are trying new different shades and lipsticks. Hope you have a wonderful and memorable New Year ahead. I'll keep your mother in my prayers that she'll be cure from Cancer.

I have been following your blog for quite some time and I always enjoy reading what you have shared with us. The contents are so informative and useful. I appreciate that you find time to blog so as to share with readers. To me, it is time-consuming to upload pics and blog.

I find it so coincidental most of the time, after I bought something, you would blog about it. But I haven't even got to use my stuff at the times you shared with us the reviews. I've been trying to do so but I have bought so many things!

Your blog on how you store/keep your make-up amazed me. I need to tidy up my stuff. Luckily, my hubby is quite supportive of me, I have got a whole room to store them!

You also inspired me to blog about beauty products and start using my products with your 'Operation Use it Up'. 90% are still unopened! I have been buying stuff which I didn't use because of my hectic life or was it procrastination on my part?

By the way, I have always wondered what your occupation is because you always get to travel and spend lots of money on lovely and luxury stuff.

hi Jenn,Thank you, am glad to hear that you have found the blog useful. I write down lists of products to use up for the month, and that actually helps me to focus on using up products, rather than simply have an ever-expanding beauty stash. For privacy reasons, I don't answer questions about my occupation.

hi peonyinlove,Thank you for the well wishes, hope that 2011 will be a great year for you too!

Happy new year Iris. It was nice meeting you the last time...I was reading your blog on and off as I was not so much into makeup but started reading it more when you posted pics of yourself. :) Yes, more personable!

Thank you for this heart-felt post. *Hugs* and Happy New Year. 2010 was the year we really got to know each other better and I'm grateful for that! Here's to more quick lunches and leisurely shopping! :D

Quite a late comment, but lovely, reflective post! Very inspiring, thanks.I do enjoy your FOTDs; it's nice to see how the shadows actually look, and I really appreciate the information you give regarding lasting power, etc.

Hi Haru, I feel inspired by this entry of yours as I'm in my late 20s and can definitely relate to what you have written. I really hope that my 30s will be better. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I have been your follower for quite a while and I really live your blog! Blog on!